Apparatus for handling containers



J n. 14, 1930. H. H. c. GRONDAHL 1,743,450

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 3, 1926 Mremar AME/0M Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES HANS HEN RIK CHRISTIAN GRONDAI-IL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN rarea'r OFFICE ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. 'Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CONTAINERS Application filed. September 3, 1926. Serial No. 133,317.

This invention relates to an apparatus for handling containers, and more particularly to an apparatus for transporting and discharging a melting furnace.

In one system of casting metals paritcularly employed in casting slabs or billets of non-ferrous metals, the molds are positioned in rows along which a furnace, in which the metal is melted, is conveyed in an upright position and which is tilted to discharge the molten metal into the positioned molds.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact and effective apparatus for transporting and discharging a container.

In accordance with one embodiment there of, the invention contemplates the provision of a self-contained motor driven carriage for a melting furnace, supported upon a track alongarow of molds and having a hand wheel controlled device for giving the furnace a limited transverse movement to position it with respect to the molds. A fork engaging a trunnion bearing on the furnace is provided with a threaded rod which is caused to move in the direction of its length by means of a threaded motor operated gear driven collar to tilt and thereby discharge the contents of the furnace.

It is believed that a complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment thereof, and in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the transporting and tilting mechanism, and

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in which the same reference numerals indicate similar parts in the several views a furnace 4, which may be of any suitable type usually employed for melting metals, is supported on a frame 6 comprising a base 7, two upright standards or brackets 8-8, and a pair of supporting members 9-9 which are attached to the brackets 88 by means of connecting members 1111. The furnace is carried by two arms 5-5 secured to the furnace by bolts 8-3 and pivotally mounted at one end in journals at 1212 in the brackets 88 and providedat the other end with trunnion bearings 14-14: which are journaled in the ends of a fork 15 provided with an integral threadedrod 16 which extends into a pit 10 by reason of which it is possible to arrange the entire apparatus so that no portion thereof will extend above the furnace. A pair of running. boards 1313 are provided on the base to enablethe operator to cross the pit 10. A vertical movement of the rod 16 will cause the furnace to pivot about the points 12-12 in linewith which is a spout 29 for discharging the furnace. By thus arranging the spout it will change its position but slightly when the furnace is tilted.

The vertical movement of the rod 16 is effected by the rotation of an internally threaded collar 17 engaging the rod and provided with a ball bearing journal 23 supported by a cradle 18 which is hinged by sleeves 19 '19 on a bracket 22 allowing the cradle to swing into alignment with the vertical position of the rod and fork as the furnace is tilted, the bracket 22 having an aperture 20 of sufiicient clearance to permit the required swinging of V the rod. The upper portion of the collar 17 is formed as a bevel gear which engages a pinion 30 on a shaft 21 which passes through one of the sleeves 19 and may be rotated through a set of spur gears 24 by an electric motor 25 supported on the bracket 22 and connected in any suitable manner to a source of electric current (not shown).

The frame 6 which carries the furnace is mounted on flanged wheels 26-26 which are supported by a short track 27-27 to permit alimited transverse movement of the furnace. This movement is produced by a ro-' tation of a hand-wheel 28 which is communicated through two sets of bevel gears'33 and 31 to a threaded rod 32 which engages an internally threaded block 34 fixed to the track. A rotation of the rod 32 will draw the furnace forward or backward depending upon the direction of rotation.

The track 27 is mounted upon a buggy or truck 35 which is mounted on a second track 36 on which the entire apparatus may be transported longitudinally by means of an electric motor 37, operated from any suitable source of electric current andwhich may be 7 connected to the Wheels of the truck through suitable gearing (not shown).

When the charge of the furnace is ready to be poured a number of molds 38 are placed in line along the track 36, the apparatus is transported to the first mold and tilted forward to pour the molten metal, its transverse position having been adjusted by the handwheel to direct the metal into the mold. When the mold is filled the furnace is tilted backward to stop the pouring operation and the apparatus is moved to the next mold and the operation is repeated until the charge is exhausted.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention herein described and illustrated is merely a convenient and useful'form a of the invention, which is vcapable of many other modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

7 "What is claimed is:

v 1. In an apparatus for tilting a container, a container pivotally mounted, a'member pivotally connected to the container and provided with'a threaded rod for rotatingvthe container about its pivot, an internally threaded collar engaging the threaded rod, and means for rotating the collar to cause a movement of the rod in the direction of its with -a;threaded rod for rotating'the fur 'nace about its pivot, a-threaded collar engagingthe'rod, a hinged cradle supporting the length. (I

3. In an apparatus'for tilting a furnace, a

. length.

J '2. In an apparatus for tilting a furnace, a furnace pivotally mounted, afork provided with a threaded rod for rotating the furnace about its pivot, a threaded collar engaging the rod, a hinged cradle supporting the col-1 lar, and means for rotating the collar to cause the'direction of its a movement of the rod in furnace :pivotally mounted, a fork provided collar, and a drive shaft for rotating the collar passing through one of the hinged supports for the cradle.

4:, In an apparatus for. tilting a'container, a

13 container pivotally mounted, a forked member'pivotally connectedto opposite sides of i the; container, a threaded memberconnected to said forked member, and means for-actuating the threaded member to tilt the container through theactuation of the forked member.

In witness whereof,'I hereuntosubscribe my name this 13th day of August A. D., 1926.

' HANS liENRlK CHRISTIAN GRONDAHL. 

